Thai

edit

Etymology

edit

From Proto-Tai *leːwꟲ (to be finished), from Middle Chinese (MC lewX). Cognate with Lao ແລ້ວ (lǣu); (l̇aew), Northern Thai ᩓ᩠ᩅ. Compare also Iu Mien liuz (to finish, to end; then; after).

Pronunciation

edit
Orthographic/Phonemicแล้ว
æ l ˆ w
RomanizationPaiboonlɛ́ɛo
Royal Institutelaeo
(standard) IPA(key)/lɛːw˦˥/(R)

Verb

edit

แล้ว (lɛ́ɛo)

  1. to end; to come to an end.
  2. to complete; to finish.

Adjective

edit

แล้ว (lɛ́ɛo)

  1. (archaic) complete (with); full (of).

Adverb

edit

แล้ว (lɛ́ɛo)

  1. Used at the end of a sentence to indicate completion of an action, or beginning of a new situation.
    1. Indicating an action completion.
      เด็ก กินข้าวแล้ว  ―  dèk dèk gin-kâao lɛ́ɛo  ―  The children have already eaten.
    2. Indicating that a new state or a new situation has begun.
      เธอเป็นผู้ใหญ่แล้วนะ  ―  təə bpen pûu-yài lɛ́ɛo  ―  You are an adult now.
    3. (Especially with จะ) Indicating that a new situation is about to begin.
      กลับบ้านแล้วนะ  ―  glàp bâan lɛ́ɛo  ―  [I'm] about to go home now.
      นักเรียนสอบจะเสร็จแล้วนะ  ―  nák-riian sɔ̀ɔp jà sèt lɛ́ɛo  ―  The students are about to finish the test now.
  2. then; next; and.
    เขาอ่านข้อความแล้วหัวเราะ  ―  kǎo àan kɔ̂ɔ-kwaam lɛ́ɛo hǔua-rɔ́  ―  He read the message, then laughed.

Usage notes

edit

Further reading

edit
  • Jenny, Mathias (2001) “The aspect system of Thai”, in Ebert, Karen H., Zúñiga, Fernando, editors, Aktionsart and aspectotemporality in non-European languages, Zürich: ASAS-Verlag, pages 97-140